Condors Top Texas Stars with 5-Goal Third Period

(Credit: Bakersfield Condors)

Texas hit the road for a four game, nine day trip tonight, falling in their opener 5-2 to Bakersfield. Texas had a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame, but allowed five in the third. Two came on the power play and the final tally was an empty netter.

In positive news, Justin Dowling returned to the lineup after missing last Saturday's game with an upper body injury caused by San Diego's Stu Bickel. Texas next faces Stockton on Saturday night.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars carried a 2-0 lead into the third period thanks to Brian Flynn, but the offense for the Bakersfield Condors erupted for five goals to lock up a 5-2 final on Thursday night at Rabobank Arena in front of 5,319 in attendance.

Ty Rattie tallied a hat trick for the Condors (5-4-0-0) in the third period, including a pair of power play goals. Flynn scored his second and third goals of the season to give Texas (5-4-0-1) a two-goal lead entering the final frame. Travis Morin (five games) and Dillon Heatherington (four games) each tallied assists for Texas to extend their individual point streaks.

Texas visits the Stockton Heat Saturday at 8 p.m. CST to continue their four-game road trip.

The Condors' surge began at 2:16 of the third when Joey LaLeggia buried a rebound goal for his third of the year. Rattie's first power play strike came from the right circle at 8:49 on a crossing pass. Joe Gambardella slipped home a point-blank chance around Mike McKenna of the Stars after a Texas turnover in their own zone.

Rattie added another power play goal with 5:53 to play and capped off the hat trick on an empty-net goal with three mintutes remaining.

Eddie Pasquale earned the win in net stopping 31 of 33 shots. McKenna suffered the loss going 16 of 20.

The Stars wasted no time getting started as Flynn buried his second of the season just 93 seconds into the contest after Morin forced a turnover in the corner to earn the assist.

Flynn doubled the Stars lead to 2-0 with his second of the game at 7:34 of the second by deflecting Heatherington's point shot for his third of season.

Texas finished 0-for-2 on the power play while Bakersfield went 2-for-6.

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
McNeill, Rallo, Fyten, Bystrom (scratch)
French (lower-body)
Elie, Dickinson (call-up)

Tonight's attendance was 5,319.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Bakersfield - November 2 2017